Scrubbing tool having rotable contact element

ABSTRACT

A scrubbing tool is comprised of a base, tubular extension, and contact element in which the tubular extension and contact element are rotable in relation to the base. By rotating the contact element, the wear on the contact element can be distributed more evenly, and hence, the useful life of the scrubbing tool can be extended.

United States Patent Kim 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [54] SCRUBBING TOOL HAVING ROTABLE 3,434,177 3/1969 Parry 15/209 R CONTACT ELEMENT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Kyung H. Kim, 1226 8. Fourth St, 706,365 3/1931 France 15/209 AH Terre Haute, 1nd. 47802 1.700 1/1889 Great Britain 15/147 979,063 l 1965 G tB -t 15 209 AH 221 Filed: May 30, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 258,070 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin AttorneyHward E. Post [52] U.S. Cl. l/209 AH, 15/147 B 511 1m. (:1 A471 17/08 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 15/209 AH, 209 R, A Scrubbing is Compnscd of a base, tubular exten- 5 47 B 147 R7 22 114 115 I18 SiOn, and contact element in which the tubular exten sion and contact element are rotable in relation to the [56] References Cited base. By rotating the contact element, the wear on the contact element can be distributed more evenly, and UNITED STATES PATENTS hence, the useful life of the scrubbing tool can be 1,462,794 7/1923 Kumpunen 1. 15/228 extended 2,887,712 5/1959 Vosbikian et a1. 15/115 3,060,478 /1962 Silver /209 AH 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SCRUBBING TOOL HAVING ROTATABLE CONTACT ELEMENT The present invention relates to a scrubbing tool, and in particular, to a scrubbing tool having a rotatable contact element.

By the present invention a scrubbing tool is provided which enables relatively uniform wear of the contact element to be achieved. Scrubbing tools of the prior art exhibit relatively non-uniform wear of their contact elements. Hence, while a substantial portion of the contact element would have little, if any, noticeable wear, the portion providing a substantial amount of the scrubbing contact may be worn to a great extent, and, as a result, the scrubbing tool does not function effectively and must be replaced. Undesirable wear is particularly disadvantageous when the contact element is of a fabric nature such as a mesh.

The novel scrubbing tool of the present invention is comprised ofa disc-shaped base having atop and a bottom. Extending from the top of the base is a handle and from the bottom of the base is an axially positioned protrusion and at least one peripherally positioned protrusion. A tubular extension is provided which is adapted to contact the bottom of the base at its upper end and have a plurality of arms depending from its bottom end. Within the tubular extension is an annular plate, the annular plate being adapted to pivot around the axially positioned protrusion. At least one indentation is provided on the top of the annular plate and engages a peripherally positioned protrusion on the base thus enabling the tubular extension to be locked into a position.

A securing means is affixed to the axially positioned protrusion and is adapted to hold the annular plate firmly with the top of the tubular extension being in contact with the bottom of the base. The securing means may be employed to retain the contact element by grasping the contact element between the securing element and the annular plate. The contact element extends below the plurality of arms on the tubular extension. The tubular extension and arms can provide lateral support to the contact element and, hence, enable increased beneficial contact of the contact element with a surface being treated. As the contact element wears, the tubular extension and securing means can be rotated, causing the contact element to similarly be rotated,'with respect to the base until a peripherally positioned protrusion engages an indentation on the annular plate. The rotation of the contact element enables another portion of the contact element to be positioned at the point of greater wear. Thus, the uneven wear concomitant with scrubbing tools can be rationed to all portions of the contact elementithereby extending the period of usefulness of the scrubbing tool.

The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the Figures which illustrate a preferred embodiment. In the drawings, I

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of the scrubbing tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the scrubbing tool;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tubular extension having a segmented portion; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the securing means.

With reference to the Figures, the scrubbing tool is generally designated as numeral 10. Disc-shaped base 12 has a top portion 14 with handle 16 extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Handle 16 has ribs 18 for increased strength. As depicted, handle 16 is smoothly curved as it attaches to disc-shaped base 12 providing a comfortable location to place, for instance, a user's thumb, especially when greater pressure on the scrubbing tool is desired to effect more vigorous scrubbing. Tubular extension 20 extends downwardly from disc-shaped base 12, and a plurality of arms 22, substantially equidistant one from another extend downwardly from tubular extension 20. Arms 22 are advantageously integral with tubular extension 20 and are vaulted. Contact element 26, shown as an open mesh fabric which can be, for example, metal, plastic, cloth, and the like, extends downwardly from within tubular extension 20 to below arms 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, tubular extension 20 surrounds the integral annular plate 28. Annular plate 28 has a plurality of indentations 32 on upper surface 30. Indentations 32 are adapted so that upon rotation each indentation 32 can receive, in turn, peripherally located protrusion 34 which extends downwardly from disc-shaped base 12. Peripherally located protrusion 34 and indentations 32 are positioned such that when peripherally located protrusion 34 engages an indentation, arms 22 at the front of the scrubbing tool, i.e., the portion of the scrubbing tool diametrically opposed to the extension of handle 16, straddle the front. Thus, for instance, with an even number of arms 22, when peripherally located protrusion 34 is directly under handle 16, each indentation 32 will be equidistant from the two adjacent arms. Annular plate 28 is adapted to fit concentrically around axially located protrusion 36 which is integral with disc-shaped base 12 and extends downwardly therefrom. Axially located protrusion is illustrated as being comprised of retainer portion 38, which is adapted to fit with annulus 40 of annular plate 28, and securing extension 42. Tubular extension 20 is provided with lip 44 which is adapted to fit in a reciprocating groove in disc-shaped base 12. Support members 54 are provided on the interior of tubular extension 20 and extend down each arm 22 for increased strength.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, contact element 26 is affixed to ring 46. Ring 46 is held in position between annular plate 28 and securing means 48 which is threadably attached to securing extension 42. Annular plate 28 in turn is retained between disc-shaped base 12 and ring 46. Securing means 48 is comprised of annular section 50 which is adapted to threadably attach to securing extension 42 and radially extending fins 52 which support and force contact element 26 in an outwardly direction. The scrubbing tool may be constructed of various materials such as metal, plastic, and the like. Advantageously, the scrubbing tool is made of moldable thermoplastic material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, and the like. The selection of the material of construction must be made with a consideration of the use and the media to which the scrubbing tool may be subjected.

The embodiment of the scrubbing tool of this invention provides a means by which relatively uniform wear of the contact element can be achieved, and thus, the usable life of the scrubbing tool can be extended.

It is claimed:

1. A scrubbing tool comprising a disc-shaped base having a top and bottom; a handle extending upwardly and outwardly from said disc-shaped base; a tubular extension rotably affixed to said disc-shaped base and having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion of said tubular extension contacts and fixedly engages the bottom of said disc-shaped base; a plurality of arms extending downward from said bottom portion of said tubular extension; an annular plate within said top portion of said tubular extension having at least one indentation thereon; at least one peripherally located protrusion on the bottom of said disc-shaped base which is adapted to matchingly engage on said indentation on said annular plate; an axially located protrusion extending downwardly from said disc-shaped base and through said annular plate; a securing means adapted to attach to said axially located protrusion and retain said annular plate between itself and said disc-shaped base; and a contact element extending from within said tubular extension to below said arms.

2. The scrubbing tool of claim 1 in which the contact element is affixed to a ring which is adapted to be positioned between said annular plate and said securing means.

3. The scrubbing tool of claim 1 in which when a peripherally located protrusion engages an indentation on said annular plate, the arms on said tubular extension which are positioned most closely opposite of said handle, are equidistant from a point on said disc-shaped base diametrically opposite said handle. 

1. A scrubbing tool comprising a disc-shaped base having a top and bottom; a handle extending upwardly and outwardly from said disc-shaped base; a tubular extension rotably affixed to said disc-shaped base and having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion of said tubular extension contacts and fixedly engages the bottom of said disc-shaped base; a plurality of arms extending downward from said bottom portion Of said tubular extension; an annular plate within said top portion of said tubular extension having at least one indentation thereon; at least one peripherally located protrusion on the bottom of said disc-shaped base which is adapted to matchingly engage on said indentation on said annular plate; an axially located protrusion extending downwardly from said disc-shaped base and through said annular plate; a securing means adapted to attach to said axially located protrusion and retain said annular plate between itself and said disc-shaped base; and a contact element extending from within said tubular extension to below said arms.
 2. The scrubbing tool of claim 1 in which the contact element is affixed to a ring which is adapted to be positioned between said annular plate and said securing means.
 3. The scrubbing tool of claim 1 in which when a peripherally located protrusion engages an indentation on said annular plate, the arms on said tubular extension which are positioned most closely opposite of said handle, are equidistant from a point on said disc-shaped base diametrically opposite said handle. 